Jonah Patel
In Nevada, a simple majority vote in two successive legislative sessions is required for a constitutional amendment to be placed on the ballot. This amounts to a minimum of 22 votes in the Nevada State Assembly and 11 votes in the Nevada State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Once on the ballot, a simple majority vote in two consecutive elections is required for voter approval.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment | 10% of the total number of votes cast in the preceding general election |
| Number of votes needed in the Nevada State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot | 22 in the Nevada State Assembly and 11 in the Nevada State Senate |
| Number of votes needed in the Nevada State Legislature for voter approval | Simple majority in two successive legislative sessions |
| Number of votes needed for citizen-initiated amendments | Majority in two consecutive elections |
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What You'll Learn
- A simple majority vote is needed in two successive legislative sessions
- Amendments don't require the governor's signature
- Citizen-initiated amendments need approval by a majority of voters in two consecutive elections
- A two-thirds vote is required to refer a constitutional convention question to the ballot
- The Nevada State Legislature needs to pass an amendment during two successive sessions
A simple majority vote is needed in two successive legislative sessions
In Nevada, a simple majority vote is required in two successive legislative sessions for the Nevada State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. This amounts to a minimum of 22 votes in the Nevada State Assembly and 11 votes in the Nevada State Senate, assuming no vacancies. For example, Nevada's Question 4, a State Constitutional Rights of Voters Amendment, was passed by the Nevada State Senate in 2017 and 2019, with the Nevada Assembly passing it in 2017 and the revised amendment in 2019. As a result, Question 4 was referred to the ballot for the election on November 3, 2020.
Nevada is one of 25 states that require supermajority legislative support for amendments. Of these 25 states, 16 require a two-thirds vote, while 9 require a three-fifths vote. Only 10 states allow amendments to be approved by a majority vote in a single session.
In addition to the legislative route, Nevada also allows citizen-initiated amendments. However, these face an additional hurdle compared to other states, as they must be approved by a majority of voters in two consecutive elections. This is in contrast to most other states, where citizen-initiated amendments only need to be ratified by a simple majority of voters.
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Amendments don't require the governor's signature
In Nevada, a majority vote is required in two successive sessions of the Nevada State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. This amounts to a minimum of 22 votes in the Nevada State Assembly and 11 votes in the Nevada State Senate, assuming no vacancies. However, amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
The Nevada Constitution provides multiple paths for amending its provisions, which are much easier to change than the federal Constitution. State constitutions are amended regularly, and Nevada's constitution has been amended several times since its proposal and passage by the 1907 legislature.
The process of amending the Nevada Constitution involves several steps. Firstly, the number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is equal to 10% of the total votes cast in the previous general election. This is the citizen-initiated amendment process, where supporters must meet signature requirements and legal requirements for the amendment to be placed on the ballot. Once an amendment is on the ballot, it must be approved by a majority of voters in two consecutive elections.
While amendments in Nevada do not require the governor's signature, they do require approval from the Nevada State Legislature. This involves a simple majority vote during two successive legislative sessions, with a minimum of 22 votes in the Nevada State Assembly and 11 votes in the Nevada State Senate. This process ensures that any changes to the Nevada Constitution reflect the will of the people and are supported by a significant portion of the legislature.
The ease of amending state constitutions, including Nevada's, stands in contrast to the challenging process of amending the federal Constitution. While state constitutions are amended frequently, the U.S. Constitution has only been amended 27 times, illustrating the significance and durability of our nation's founding document.
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Citizen-initiated amendments need approval by a majority of voters in two consecutive elections
In Nevada, citizen-led constitutional amendments must clear several hurdles before they can be enacted. This process is designed to ensure that any changes to the state's foundational document reflect the will of a significant portion of the state's citizens.
The first step is to gather signatures. In Nevada, the number of signatures required for a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment is equal to 10% of the total number of votes cast in the preceding general election. This is a significant number of signatures and requires a dedicated effort from supporters of the amendment.
Once the signatures have been gathered, the amendment can be placed on the ballot. However, even at this stage, there is no guarantee that the amendment will be enacted. In Nevada, citizen-initiated amendments need to be approved by a majority of voters in two consecutive elections. This means that an amendment must not only receive a simple majority of votes in favour but must do so across two separate elections. This requirement ensures that any changes to the constitution have broad and sustained support from the state's citizens.
The specific process for placing an amendment on the ballot and the requirements for approval can vary from state to state. Some states require amendments to be passed during one or two successive legislative sessions, depending on whether they receive a simple majority or a supermajority. In Nevada, the state legislature must also approve the amendment during two successive sessions with a simple majority vote, after which it can be placed on the ballot for voter approval.
The process of amending Nevada's constitution is designed to be rigorous and reflective of the citizens' will. By requiring citizen-initiated amendments to be approved by a majority of voters in two consecutive elections, Nevada ensures that any changes to its constitution are supported by a broad and sustained majority of its citizens.
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A two-thirds vote is required to refer a constitutional convention question to the ballot
In the United States, state legislatures generate more than 80% of constitutional amendments that are considered and approved annually. While the US Constitution is difficult to change, having only been amended 27 times, state constitutions are amended regularly, with the 50 states' constitutions having been amended around 7,000 times.
State legislatures vary in their requirements for crafting amendments. Some require that amendments are backed by a majority of legislators, while others require supermajority legislative support. Some states require legislative support to be expressed in a single session, while others require two consecutive sessions.
Nevada is one of the states that require two successive sessions to pass a constitutional amendment. A simple majority vote is required in two successive legislative sessions for the Nevada State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. This amounts to a minimum of 22 votes in the Nevada State Assembly and 11 votes in the Nevada State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
However, according to Section 2 of Article 16 of the Nevada Constitution, a two-thirds vote of the Nevada State Legislature is required to refer a constitutional convention question to the ballot. This is a higher threshold than the simple majority vote required for the Nevada State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot.
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The Nevada State Legislature needs to pass an amendment during two successive sessions
The Nevada State Legislature requires a simple majority vote during two successive legislative sessions to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. This amounts to a minimum of 22 votes in the Nevada State Assembly and 11 votes in the Nevada State Senate, assuming no vacancies.
For example, Nevada's Question 4, a State Constitutional Rights of Voters Amendment, was introduced as Senate Joint Resolution 3 (SJR 3) on February 13, 2017. The Nevada State Senate approved the measure 21-0 on April 25, 2017. The Nevada Assembly modified and passed the revised amendment 38-3 on May 26, 2017. As the Assembly modified the amendment, the changes were sent back to the Senate for concurrence. On May 30, 2017, the Senate concurred with the Assembly's changes. Both chambers of the state legislature then needed to pass SJR 3 during the 2019 legislative session to refer the amendment to the ballot for the election on November 3, 2020. This was achieved with a vote of 21 to zero in the State Senate and 39 to zero in the State Assembly.
Nevada is one of 25 states that require supermajority legislative support for amendments. Of these 25 states, 16 require a two-thirds vote in a single session, while the remaining nine, including Nevada, require legislatures to approve amendments during two successive legislative sessions.
In addition to legislatively referred constitutional amendments, Nevada also permits citizen-initiated constitutional amendments. These amendments must secure signatures equal to 10% of the total number of votes cast in the preceding general election and be approved by a majority of voters in two consecutive elections.
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Frequently asked questions
A simple majority vote is required during two successive legislative sessions for the Nevada State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot.
Assuming no vacancies, a minimum of 22 votes in the Nevada State Assembly and 11 votes in the Nevada State Senate are required.
Yes, the number of signatures required for a constitutional amendment proposal is equal to 10% of the total number of votes cast in the preceding general election.
No, amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
A simple majority is more than half of the votes, whereas a supermajority is a specified percentage higher than a simple majority, often two-thirds or three-fifths.
